BUG BYTES BLOG

Insect Populations vs Light Pollution

Did you know insect populations are actually on a decline? One of the main factors is actually light pollution from artificial lights — ranging from street lights to vehicle headlights to everything in-between. Moths mistake outdoor light bulbs for the moon. Dung beetles wrestle with lack of starlight which they rely upon for navigation. Fireflies, which use their bioluminescent signals for mating, struggle with courtship. While other factors come into play, such as habitat loss, climate change and invasive species, artificial light pollution can affect every aspect of an insect’s life.